Walker's Rooming House of Salvaged Souls

By Monique Wright

About the Book
Tragedy strikes, as it too often does, for couple Grenadie and Le Marcus. Out of the abundance of her heart, Grenadie endeavours to lift herself up and bring Le Marcus along with her. In this heartwarming young adult fiction novel, the main characters decide to make lemonade from the lemons hailing down on them.
Author Monique Wright describes this story as a perfect example of how one can “pick up another person's soul, dust it off, and help them succeed in a second chance at life.” Writing from personal experience, her pen hits these pages with no timidity nor harshness. Common themes include spiritual experiences of good and evil, hearts of stone and hearts of flesh, and above all: love pouring from the wretched cold. Follow Grenadie and Le Marcus’ road to healing with the goodness of the Lord in Walker’s Rooming House of Salvaged Souls.

About the Author
Monique Wright was born the seventh of twelve children in Savannah, Georgia. Her mother passed soon after her birth, and her mom’s sister acted as her main caregiver, giving her five additional siblings. Her hobbies currently include reading, cooking Italian cuisine, and endeavoring to garden. She has four children.
Monique was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2013, which obliged her to stop working in 2017. This involuntary change deeply impacted her. She battled clinical depression for many years until she “finally accepted the closed door and crawled through the window: I began writing.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Company
• Release date: May 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886839616

Book preview

Prologue

Grenadie knew something was wrong with her baby, but she did not know the extent of the havoc that depression had reeked on her psyche. She thought an apple cranberry muffin could solve everything. She put a warm one on a saucer and carried it with a carafe of hot vanilla coffee up to Jucinda’s room. She knocked on the door. Jucinda? Jucinda, honey, I made your favorites. She said. She could hear little Cadynce crying so she turned the knob and the door opened. She walked in and sat the tray down. Jucinda was in her bathroom, she could hear the shower running. As she picked Cadynce up, she looked around the room. Cinda had her stuff in disarray on her dresser, so she started standing the bottles back up on it, then she noticed she had dumped the box of razors out on the dresser. Le Marcus threw the door open. That girl has used all the hot water again! The water is ice cold. He said gruffly. Grenadie looked at him Then why hasn’t she gotten out yet? She asked. She laid Cadynce on the bed and hurried into the bathroom. Jucinda was sitting at the bottom of the shower. Gren walked over. When are you….NO...NO...NOOOO!! Grenadie began wailing and fell to her knees in the opening of the shower. Le Marcus ran in the bathroom and grabbed a hold of her. He held her up as she cried into his shoulder while he cried silently into her hair, as he watched his baby girl’s blood pour down the drain.

Salvage:

To retrieve or preserve (something) from potential loss or adverse circumstances; To rescue from loss.

The Beginning

It was finally November 10th and Gren was ready to make her next move. Well Mrs. Walker, I do not know where we are going to find another psychologist with the patience, skill, and professionalism that you have. We sure are going to miss you. The way these new counselors are, they want clients like they want their lunches: fast. Mr. Clydes told her. Well, you have been a wonderful boss Mr. Clydes. She said. Oh, hush that now. Do you know this was supposed to be you running this place? You just would not hear of it with your psychology. She smiled at him, and he hugged her. I will miss you Grenadie, but I know you are needed someplace else. He said as he walked her to the front door of the office past the other counselor’s offices; she heard everyone wishing her well on her new venture. She had the leftover cake from today in her lunch box for Marcus. She placed her box in the trunk of her car, closed it, and left. For thirty years she was a counselor, but when her daughter needed her, she could not see just how bad Jucinda’s situation was. Cinda was raped and she did not listen to her when she told her that. She thought it was an excuse she had for being pregnant because she always had an excuse for most things she did not do right. She wiped a tear from her cheek. If Marcus was here, he’d tell her to stop dwelling on things and move forward. They had a big day on Monday and both of them were ready for this change. She could not make up for Jucinda’s situation. Nothing was going to stop her from changing the lives of other young women and men for the better one at a time.

So, the home has thirteen rooms. Eleven of the rooms have full bathrooms, then there are two powder rooms throughout the rest of the home. The restaurant at the front has another two bathrooms, men and ladies. What are you guys going to call that? The realtor asked them. Jucinda Lynn’s, they said simultaneously. They walked into the diner, with it’s ten tables and six booths. It had black and white tiles with a random red tile pattern on the floor with black tiles up the wall halfway. The booths were red along with the stools at the bar. Everything is fairly new. What happened? Gren asked. Well, it can be as pretty as you want, but when your food is basic, you are not going to stick around too long, Rita said. That reminds me, what are you guys selling? She asked them. Do not worry Rita, it won’t be basic. Does he look like he is eating basically to you? Gren asked. They all had a good laugh. Uh oh, we have to get to the elementary school to pick up our grandbaby.  We already know we want it, Rita. Gren said. Okay! What bank is financing it for you? Rita asked. None. We will have the cashier check to you tomorrow. Le Marcus said.

The next day, they handled the paperwork and the cleaners came in to deep clean the diner and the house. Afterwards, Gren picked out a nice spot for her office. She had her desk and shelves brought in. Cadynce was ten years old now and looking more like her mom every day. She had Cinda’s features, which showed her Asian and Jamaican descent that she acquired from her grandpa. They were ready to go live in about three weeks. They were staffed and stocked, with Gren’s little brother, Vladimir, as her main cook. She would help cook on the weekends. She had her contract with the women’s center and the youth center, as well as her donations and sponsors lined up. She would be receiving her first woman at the boarding house in three days. She read her profile:

 Trudence Banner: 70-year-old female. Birth date: 10/07/41. Cult member who helped kill the leader of the cult for trying to rape her child. Trudy, along with the other mothers, were recorded as saying they would do it again.

On the day she first laid eyes on Trudy, her smile and her deep dimples made her an adorable little person. Hi Trudy, my name is Grenadie. I am going to take you to my boarding house and help you get over what you have been through and what you have done. She told Trudy. Trudy smiled I’ve already forgotten most of what I have been through, and what I did was kill a perverted bastard who I finally realized was not my messiah. Though if you have better food than this place, I will gladly accompany you. She said and jumped up from her chair. She walked out of the room and then looked back in: Coming? She said.

While getting to know Trudy, she wondered how anyone could control her mind. She told her so. It wasn’t about controlling my mind. It was about belonging somewhere. Being loved, but when he started trying to love on my kid, my view of him was altered when I caught him red-handed trying to lay with my kid a second time well, I hit him across the head with a four-and-a-half-inch pipe. We all did because they knew it meant he was fiddling with their kids too. She told Gren. I understand why you did it Trudence, but do you think it was right? Gren asked her. That’s the thing, I know it wasn’t right, but I can sleep at night because I have asked God for forgiveness, and my sunflower is happy and healthy, Trudy said. Grenadie sat back and accepted Trudy had all her faculties intact. Anyone who knew speaking to God was the answer to their problems was plenty sane to Gren.

The restaurant opened on December 15th. The day’s blue plate special was smothered pork chops, whipped potatoes, and honey and bacon carrots. Other menu options were fried fish and home fries, meatloaf with a pea and carrot mix, then your choice of rice or whipped potatoes, and fried chicken with red rice and cabbage. All options were offered al a carte and for dessert red velvet cake, chewies, choice of cookies, ice cream, and pecan or apple pie. The diner was filled to capacity and stayed that way. Once the word got out about the food at Jucinda Lynn’s they became so popular they had to hire more waitstaff. They had a rotating menu. The vegetables usually remained the same they would throw collard greens or fresh green beans in the mix once a week. It was the proteins that fluctuated. Their most popular were the fried chicken and chicken strips, fried pork chops and fish, and pot roast. The pot roast was marinated for a day and slow cooked overnight. It was so tender and flavorful, it’s usually sold out the first three hours of opening. The diner was doing better than they hoped. It took them a little under 10 thousand dollars to run the diner a day. Some days were less when there were mostly to-go orders. Did not have to pay a waitstaff on Sundays. They were to go only on Sunday. They were pulling in well over 25 thousand a day. Marcus added the deli counter in the back where they have now fixed sandwiches hot or cold. The diner was going well it was time for Grenadie to start salvaging souls.

Ashlyn

The phone rang at eight o’clock on the dot, as it always does on Monday mornings for the past 10 years. Hello, Grenadie speaking. She said through a yawn. Hi grandma, I have a woman here who needs you, grandpa, and Ms. Trudy, Cadynce said. Cady was the new director of the woman’s center. Okay, let me get my shower and coffee and you fax over her paperwork, Gren said. She got up and jumped in the shower. She let the warm water run over her head and through her salt and pepper curls. Grenadie got dressed and descended the stairs. Franny had the breakfast buffet set up in the dining room. Morning Fran. She said as she walked over to pour herself a cup of coffee, grab some bacon, scrambled eggs, and a banana muffin. Morning Gren, you going to get another one? Fran asked. Yep, she answered. Gren walked over to the fax machine balancing her coffee in one hand and picking up the thick stack of paper work from it with the other.

She sat down to read up on her:

Ashlyn Costner: age 24; birthdate 01/26/ 97; victim of rape, pedophilia, and incest from ages 6 -13. She went down the road of self-hate. Holding no value to herself. Drug possession and prostitution.She is being released from prison and needs an address and counseling.

She made it to the center and sat at a table with Ashlyn Costner. Hello Ashlyn, I heard you have been locked up for 3 years for a possession of drugs charge. These weren’t your drugs, but you took the rap for it. Why is that? Gren asked her. Ashlyn, who was way more interested in her nails than she was in the conversation finally acknowledged Gren who was writing rapidly in Ashlyn’s binder. Because I did not have anything or anyone to lose, Ashlyn said. We are about to have our first session. Tell me how you came to that have that opinion. Gren said.

Ashlyn was 6 and her parents were going to a concert with her aunt Bess and her husband Rich. So, they had her aunt Bess’s son. Eric, who was sixteen to babysit her. Their parents left around six-thirty. Aunt May left money what do you want to eat? He asked Ashlyn. Pizza! She said. Alright, I will order you pizza. You want to play outside until it comes? He asked her. I’ve already washed off. She said, disappointed. You can take another bubble bath, can you not? He asked her. Yeah! She jumped up and yelled. Then to the closet by the front door and got her shoes. Then shot out the front door, jumping on her bike with her training wheels wobbling, she rode it up and down the sidewalk as Eric looked on. It took the pizza about thirty- five minutes to get there. Come on Ash. He called her in to enjoy the pizza. It is good. She said through a mouth full of cheese and pepperoni. Sure is. He agreed. When they were finished, he told her it was time for a bath. He began to run her water and then looked for bubbles. Wait, I have a trick, he said. He walked into the kitchen and got the dish soap. Then walked back into the bathroom to squeeze a little bit in the water and the bubbles rushed to the surface. Ashlyn giggled. He took the bottle back into the kitchen and came back to the bathroom. I can wash myself. You don’t have to be here. Ashlyn told him. He came in anyway starting with washing her back, wiping down to her buttocks taking extra care to be gentle. He washed her front next spending extra time washing her private. He dropped the cloth, but continued to massage her private back and forth. I need a bath too, Ashlyn. Can I get in with you? He asked her. No. Take your Own, she said. He was already stripping down and fully erect. He eased into the bath with her. He pulled her close to him, grabbing small hands and placing them on his penis. You want to play? Go up and down like this. He showed her. I do not want to. She whined. Please, this is a special game I want to play with you Ash. Come on. Make me Happy? Do I not make you happy? He asked. She moved up and down for him after a while he began to moan and white stuff got everywhere.

After that, for the next seven years, Eric abused her whenever she was alone with him until she stood up for herself. She tried to tell her mom, but she would not hear of it, especially after all the love Eric has shown her through the years. The tables were turned when they caught him playing in 4-year-old Lavender’s underwear at a fourth of July cookout when he was twenty-three.

 When she said I told you so, they made her feel ashamed of it. At thirteen, she ran away from home. The only way she could make money was by selling her body. She met Pee Wee a six-foot-five-inch bully of a man that made her pay for his protection. He made her perform tricks for and on him. She worked for him for years, even starring in a few amateur porno films that became big in Perry, Georgia. He took her to sex parties. Any and every way that he could exploit her he did. He even introduced her to heroin to make controlling her easier. He made her start traveling with his drugs in a vial up her anus.

After hearing what Ashlyn would tell her she now understood how she found herself worthless. She has been treated as such. "Collect your things Ashlyn It is time to go home. GREN said.

Home? Where is home? Ashlyn asked her. Your home now called the Walker House. This will be where you will acquire proper skills, and financial skills to manage yourself in the world. I have so much for you to do and see and everything is going to benefit you. Let’s go. As they approached the house Ashlyn realized that there would be others there. How many people are already here? She asked Gren. There are thirteen rooms and three are occupied right now plus my husband and me on the other side of the house, along with my granddaughter Cadynce. You will have your own bathroom and the bed is queen size. The linen closet is at the end of the hall. So, if you need clean sheets or towels that’s where you would find them. Gren told her. Okay. Do I have to feed myself? Ashlyn asked. Oh no. Gren looked at her arm it will be twelve by the time we arrive at the house. All you must do is find your way to the dining room. Fran and the girls will have a buffet -set out for each meal. Gren told her. Gren pulled into the garage they got out. That vehicle over there can be signed out by housemates as long as they are adhering to house rules and their parole, Gren said, pointing at full-bodied sedan in the corner of the large garage. They entered the house and the aroma slapped Ashlyn in the face. It was as if her stomach started to growl from smelling the food. Gren smiled as Ashlyn took off ahead of her. She shook her head Fran’s cooking will do that to you. Gren rounded the corner to the dining room just in time to see Ashlyn sitting at the table with her plate. Gren walked up to see what Fran had made. Chicken Parmesan oh my goodness. She said. That’s right, or shrimp Alfredo and Italian green beans or Caesar salad and garlic bread. Your newbie got excited when I said she could have a little of both. It is always the skinny ones who can eat you out of house and home. Fran said. Gren thought about that. Ashlyn wasn’t so thin because of an eating disorder, it was because of malnutrition. I will be back Fran. I need to go get my journals to correct something. I am having the parmesan and green beans with garlic bread when I get back." She said